EP3297725B1 - Système de synchronisation de couche intérieure pour un balayage par points rapide - Google Patents

Système de synchronisation de couche intérieure pour un balayage par points rapide Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3297725B1
EP3297725B1 EP16726254.2A EP16726254A EP3297725B1 EP 3297725 B1 EP3297725 B1 EP 3297725B1 EP 16726254 A EP16726254 A EP 16726254A EP 3297725 B1 EP3297725 B1 EP 3297725B1
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Prior art keywords
target
target area
movement
directed beam
application
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3297725A1 (fr
EP3297725B8 (fr
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Markus BACH
Isabel HUTH
Juergen Heese
Franko PISKULICH
Lei Dong
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Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GmbH and Co KG
Varian Medical Systems Inc
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Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GmbH and Co KG
Varian Medical Systems Inc
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
    • A61N5/10—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy
    • A61N5/1077—Beam delivery systems
    • A61N5/1081—Rotating beam systems with a specific mechanical construction, e.g. gantries
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
    • A61N5/10—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy
    • A61N5/1048—Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
    • A61N5/1064—Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods for adjusting radiation treatment in response to monitoring
    • A61N5/1065—Beam adjustment
    • A61N5/1067—Beam adjustment in real time, i.e. during treatment
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
    • A61N5/10—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy
    • A61N5/1048—Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
    • A61N5/1064—Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods for adjusting radiation treatment in response to monitoring
    • A61N5/1068—Gating the beam as a function of a physiological signal
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
    • A61N5/10—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy
    • A61N2005/1085—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy characterised by the type of particles applied to the patient
    • A61N2005/1087—Ions; Protons
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
    • A61N5/10—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy
    • A61N5/103—Treatment planning systems
    • A61N5/1037—Treatment planning systems taking into account the movement of the target, e.g. 4D-image based planning
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
    • A61N5/10—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy
    • A61N5/1042—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy with spatial modulation of the radiation beam within the treatment head
    • A61N5/1043—Scanning the radiation beam, e.g. spot scanning or raster scanning
    • A61N5/1044—Scanning the radiation beam, e.g. spot scanning or raster scanning with multiple repetitions of the scanning pattern
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
    • A61N5/10—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy
    • A61N5/1048—Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
    • A61N5/1049—Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam

Definitions

  • Embodiments of this invention relate generally to directed irradiated particle beam applications. More specifically, embodiments of this invention are directed to improved methods and systems for directing a beam of irradiated particles to achieve a target dosage while accounting for target movement.
  • Proton therapy is a type of external beam radiation therapy that is characterized by the use of a beam of protons to irradiate diseased tissue.
  • a chief advantage of proton therapy over other conventional therapies such as X-ray or neutron radiation therapies is that proton radiation has the ability to stop in matter - treatment dosages are applied as a sequence of proton beams with several energies three-dimensionally.
  • the dose deposition of each monoenergetic, thin (“pencil”) proton beam in a medium is characterized by a sharp increase in dose deposition (Single Bragg Peak) directly before the end of the proton range (i.e. beam depth), and thereby limiting the inadvertent exposure of non-target cells to potentially harmful radiation.
  • the pencil beam scanning technique allows the deflection of monoenergetic proton beams to prescribed voxels (in transversal direction / x- and y-coordinates for associated beam depths) in medium- the so called spot scanning technique (e.g., a "raster scan" of applications).
  • spot scanning technique e.g., a "raster scan” of applications.
  • Prescribed spot positions for a scanned proton beam delivery are typically arranged on a fixed (raster) pattern for each energy and therefore deliverable on a fixed scanning path within an energy layer (for example on a meander like path).
  • a Bragg peak can be spread out to cover target volumes by a uniform, prescribed dose. This enables proton therapy treatments to more precisely localize the radiation dosage relative to other types of external beam radiotherapy.
  • a particle accelerator such as a cyclotron or synchrotron
  • a particle accelerator such as a cyclotron or synchrotron
  • the protons in the beam are accelerated (via a generated electric field), and the beam of accelerated protons is subsequently "extracted” and magnetically directed through a series of interconnecting tubes (called a beamline), often through multiple chambers, rooms, or even floors of a building, before finally being applied through an end section of beamline (called Nozzle) to a target volume in a treatment room.
  • a beamline series of interconnecting tubes
  • Nozzle end section of beamline
  • the volumes (e.g., organs, or regions of a body) targeted for radiation therapy are often below the surface of the skin and/or extend in three dimensions, and since proton therapy -- like all radiation therapies -- can be harmful to intervening tissue located in a subject between the target area and the beam emitter, the precise calculation and application of correct dosage amounts and positions are critical to avoid exposing non target areas to the radiation beyond what is necessary.
  • target volumes within a body can shift and move periodically and even subconsciously or involuntarily, due to its role in or proximity to a normal respiratory or cardiac cycle, for example. Unfortunately, this movement can cause an unintended application of a proton therapy beam to neighboring healthy tissues (and/or organs at risk) for proton beams initially planned to treat the target volume.
  • the total prescribed target dose for a radiation treatment is delivered in multiple equivalent weighted fractions (total target dose divided in multiple portions of equivalent dose).
  • rescanning for pencil beam spot scanning technique in which the intended (target) dose to a voxel in the target volume is gained by repeated application of multiple portions of its prescribed target dose for a fraction (i.e. visiting the voxel several times in a sequence - called rescanning).
  • each prescribed spot position in a depth of a target volume characterized by a dedicated energy of proton beam
  • can be visited multiple times have multiple re-scans
  • a method that combines multiple rescans of a spot scanning proton beam while monitoring the periodic motion of the target area, and aligning the applications of the proton beam with parameters of the periodic motion. For example, the direction(s) and frequency of the periodic motion may be monitored, and the timing, dose rate, and/or scanning direction of the beam can be adjusted to align with phases in the periodic motion.
  • alignment of the beam application with the periodic motion can be implemented according to various methods.
  • the timing of a beam application can be adjusted to align with phases in the periodic motion by artificially adding pauses or delays to a timed sequence of beam applications according to a radiation plan.
  • the scan direction and sequence of prescribed spot positions can be adjusted to align with phases in the periodic motion and to complement the motion of the target area for each phase.
  • applications may also be aligned with the periodic motion of a target area by adjusting the dose rate of a beam application, for example by introducing a dose rate variability for consecutive beam on phases (for gated treatment) or even use a dose rate dynamic from spot to spot within a delivered proton energy layer.
  • a system is provided that is operable to perform the methods for aligning applications of a particle radiation beam (such as a proton therapy beam) with the motion of a target area.
  • a system includes a gantry that receives a stream of protons from a radiation source (such as a cyclotron or synchrotron) and is operable to rotate around a resting subject. Beam applications are emitted from a beam emitter or treatment nozzle attached to the gantry at pre-configured intensities and dose rates.
  • the system also includes one or more sensors to monitor a motion of a target area in the subject.
  • the route traveled by the gantry, the position and direction of a beam emitted by the treatment nozzle -- along with the sequential timing and/or dose rate of beam applications - can be dynamically aligned with the motion of the target area.
  • a radiation plan e.g., a proton treatment plan
  • the application of irradiated particles can be directed with greater precision by aligning beam applications with the periodic motion of a target area.
  • misdirected or misapplied beam applications can be effectively reduced.
  • the claimed subject matter is directed to a particle beam control system.
  • the beam control system may be implemented in conjunction with one or more treatment or application stations operable to receive a stream of particles from a source, an integrated beam control panel or display, executed as computer-implemented graphical interfaces associated with one or more treatment rooms.
  • the beam control system may also be implemented as a single, dedicated beam control panel and graphical interface, such as when a cyclotron is dedicated to a single treatment room and not shared between multiple treatment rooms.
  • the beam control system as described may be configured as a distributed system to provide customized graphical visualizations of a treatment session that includes one or more beam fields arranged for one or more beam applications, and integrated displays and control for a delivery of the beam for single or grouped beam fields to a beam control system.
  • the beam control system may also graphically present beam status information for beam applications submitted by a user, such as the beam field delivery order of the grouped fields.
  • the beam control interface may also provide controls for the user to add or remove beam fields to and from a beam field grouping.
  • the display contents and controls indicate beam field grouping functions and treatment statuses via graphical or numeric means. According, the display and integrated controls can be significantly, if not completely, language-independent.
  • beam delivery control can be provided remotely with respect to both the source of the particle beam, as well as from the treatment room itself.
  • a beam is defined as a proton therapy beam or other irradiated particle beam used for radiation application such as therapy treatment.
  • Each session may itself contain one or more treatment (beam) fields - the areas targeted by a beam during a portion or entirety of a treatment.
  • the fields may be irradiated in a series of layers (i.e. energies), each layer having one or more "raster scans" (rescans) that direct an application of the beam in a short burst to one or more proximate points under a temporal and spatial, pre-calculated sequence.
  • the beam energy for a session may be calculated for the furthest depth that corresponds to the furthest layer in a target, and additional attenuating components such as collimators and jaws may be placed in the path of a beam during the session to apply the proton therapy to shallower layers.
  • FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary radiation therapy device 100 in a treatment therapy room, in accordance with various embodiments of the claimed subject matter.
  • radiation therapy device 100 includes a gantry 101, a radiation treatment nozzle 103, and a subject positioner 105.
  • the gantry 101 may comprise an opening through which at least a portion of the subject positioner 105 is able to enter (e.g., via automatic and/or mechanical means).
  • at least a portion of the gantry may be operable to rotate around the opening (typically while at least a portion of the subject positioner is disposed within).
  • the gantry 101 may be implemented as a ring, at least a portion of which may be rotatable around an axis bisected by the subject positioner 105.
  • the gantry 101 is configured to receive irradiated particles through a beam line connected to a particle accelerator (not shown).
  • the particle accelerator may be implemented as, but is not limited to, a proton accelerator such as a cyclotron or synchrotron.
  • the particle accelerator may be positioned remotely with respect to the treatment therapy room and may be shared between multiple radiation therapy devices housed in multiple treatment therapy rooms. Beam lines (e.g., vacuum sealed tubes or pipes used to transfer irradiated particles) are used to connect the particle accelerator to each of the radiation therapy devices.
  • the irradiated particles are emitted from the radiation therapy device 100 through the treatment nozzle 103 located on the gantry 101.
  • the treatment nozzle 103 is rotated about the opening of the gantry 101 through a rotation of at least a portion of the gantry. In alternate embodiments, movement of the treatment nozzle 103 may be performed via movement of one or more robotic appendages coupled to the gantry 101.
  • a portion of the resting surface of the subject positioner 105 may be extended or physically positioned into an opening of the gantry 101, such that a treatment subject resting on the subject positioner 105 bisects the plane at which the treatment nozzle 103 is directed.
  • One or both of the gantry 101 and the subject positioner 105 is/are capable of maneuvering, either independently or in conjunction, to align a treatment subject positioned on the subject positioner 105 with a treatment nozzle 103.
  • Movement of the gantry 101 and/or subject positioner 105 may include, but is not limited to, rotation, extension, retraction, contraction, adduction, abduction, etc. of one or more articulated surfaces or portions of the gantry 101, and/or subject positioner 105.
  • treatment nozzle 103 may also be capable of limited movement, via multi-axial rotation, for example. Movement of the gantry 101, treatment nozzle 103, and/or subject positioner 105 may be performed automatically, via pre-programmed instructions that correspond to optimized alignments for desired iso-centers, or may be controlled remotely via a user interface.
  • a treatment subject may be positioned (e.g., by lying prone) on a subject positioner 105 at an initial or starting position.
  • One or more portions of the subject positioner 105 may extend towards an opening presented by the gantry 101, such that a target region of the treatment subject is aligned with a position of the treatment nozzle 103, located on or around an inner surface of the gantry 101.
  • the gantry 101 may also rotate in an arc around the circumference of the gantry 101 to position the treatment nozzle 103 to produce the desired beam field or to do position verification of a treatment subject positioned on a subject positioner 105.
  • treatment therapy may begin. Specifically, an iso-center in the treatment subject may be aligned with the treatment nozzle 103 via movement of the gantry 101 and/or subject positioner 105.
  • treatment therapy may comprise the application of irradiated particles generated at a (remote) particle accelerator, received in the gantry 101, and emitted (e.g., as a raster scan) in a beam field from the treatment nozzle 103 at an iso-center located in a treatment subject according to a pre-determined treatment therapy plan.
  • the treatment nozzle 103 may be configured to emit the irradiate particles in a spot scanning beam (also referred to as a "pencil beam").
  • system 200 is capable of three-dimensional spot scanning because the energy level for protons in the proton beam is selected based on a depth of the target and the transversal coordinates of the beam can be adjusted by the scanning system. Adjusting the energy level of the beam allows control of the depth at which the Bragg Peaks of the accelerated protons are located.
  • the increased flexibility made available through three-dimensional spot scanning greatly improves the precision of the dose delivered to a patient so as to maximize dose delivery to a tumor and minimize damage to healthy tissue.
  • a spot-scanning beam may be produced by crossing two or more extracted beams at an extremely fine point in the radiation device.
  • a target area (beam field) may be irradiated with a raster scan (two-dimensional emission) of the resultant spot scanning beam.
  • multiple beam fields sharing the same or proximate iso-centers may be irradiated with the spot scanning beam in a contiguous session, uninterrupted by application of the spot scanning beam to more distant or unrelated beam fields, for example.
  • beam fields that do not require the addition and/or removal of additional accessories such as (but not limited to) collimators, jaws, and range shifters, etc., may be irradiated in a contiguous beam application, as an automated treatment of a set of fields.
  • a subject resting or positioned on the subject positioner may be monitored.
  • the motion of a target area within the subject may be monitored by, but is not limited to, continuous imaging the target volume and/or tracking one or more motion surrogates directly correlated to the motion and/or position of a target volume (not shown).
  • These surrogates may include, for example, respiratory markers or ECG signals.
  • Other methods for monitoring a target area may include, but are not limited to, implanted sensors, real-time imaging devices, or any other device suitable to monitor organ motion and/or the respiratory or cardiac cycle(s) of a subject.
  • Monitoring of a target area may include measuring a frequency and duration of each phase or cycle of a periodic motion exhibited by the target area (e.g., displacement from a resting or default position) and the timing (e.g., duration) of transitions between phases. Monitoring of a target area may also include measuring the direction and the peak displacement from the resting or default position, mapped to phases of the periodic motion.
  • the monitored motion may be analyzed and the analyzed motion characteristics may be used, but are not limited, to adjust the timing, direction and sequence of directed particle beam radiation associated with prescribed radiation plans to better align beam applications to account for the motion exhibited by the target area.
  • the radiation plan may be stored with other radiation plans as a plurality of programmed instructions in a memory device of a controller (e.g., a computing device executing an application) of the radiation therapy device 100 and the emission of the beam of irradiated particles.
  • Figure 2 depicts a flow chart 200 of an exemplary process for synchronizing a spot-scanning proton beam with a target motion. Steps 201-207 describe exemplary steps comprising the process 200 depicted in Figure 2 in accordance with the various embodiments herein described. In one embodiment, the process 200 is implemented in whole or in part as computer-executable instructions stored in a computer-readable medium and executed in a computing device.
  • a radiation plan is received or accessed for a target area in a radiation subject.
  • the radiation plan may comprise a proton therapy plan for a patient undergoing radiation (proton-therapy) treatment.
  • the radiation plan is received as data in a computing device executing an application operable to control a proton therapy treatment machine.
  • the radiation plan may be pre-generated and associated with the radiation subject, and stored as one of a multitude of pre-generated records associated with a corresponding multitude of radiation subjects.
  • the radiation plan may be include a timing sequence and position data for raster-scan applications of a spot-scanning proton beam during a treatment session.
  • a motion of the target area is monitored.
  • Motion of the target area may be monitored by, but is not limited to, continuous imaging the target volume and/or tracking one or more motion surrogates directly correlated to the motion and/or position of a target volume.
  • the motion may be monitored indirectly by monitoring a displacement of an adjacent field or object.
  • Motion data is tracked using the sensors, and characteristics of periodic motions (e.g., inhalation and exhalation, heartbeats) exhibited by the target area are measured. These characteristics may include, for example, a frequency of a periodic motion, the duration of each phase in the periodic motion, and the timing of any transition period between each phase.
  • the radiation plan received in step 201 is dynamically adjusted to align the timing sequences and position data of the raster-scan application with the periodic motion exhibited by the target area measured in step 203. Adjusting the radiation plan may be accomplished by a variety of beam and periodic motion characteristics. For example, a starting position of an application of a spot-scanning beam can be aligned with a phase of periodic movement such as a respiratory motion by altering the start position of each scan of a raster scan to begin at an arbitrary position within the target area during each phase in the periodic motion. A scanning direction of the spot-scanning beam application is aligned to conform to the direction of the motion exhibited by the target area during a phase of periodic motion.
  • the dose rate of a beam application can also be aligned with the periodic motion.
  • the dose rate of beam applications occurring during or near the transition periods between phases may be increased during periods of rest by the target area and decreased when the target area accelerates.
  • Other characteristics of the beam may be aligned with the motion of the target area. For example, the number of raster scans may be increased or decreased by specifically mapping raster scans to phases.
  • the beam applications may be gated around the periodic motion so that proton beam is not applied during or near transition periods or when the target area accelerates, or otherwise maximizes the application of the beam during periods of rest or constant motion. Gating around the periodic motion may be accomplished by adding artificial delays or pauses in the timing sequence of the radiation plan to delay application of the beam during transitions between phases, or even to pause applications during specific phases.
  • the proton (e.g., spot-scanning) beam is applied according to the adjusted radiation plan determined at step 205.
  • the beam may be applied as a raster scan for one or more layers in a target area.
  • the scanning direction of the beam application is aligned at step 205 to complement the direction of the motion of the target area.
  • a target area may extend laterally during exhalation and retract during inhalation.
  • a complementary raster scan may likewise reposition one of its scanning direction along the axis of the target volume motion.
  • a deliberate pause may be added to the raster scan (e.g., a duration of a complete cycle of the periodic motion).
  • irradiations with scanned particles can be resumed when the target area is at the same position in space when the raster scan was paused before.
  • steps 203 through 207 may be performed in real-time, such that the adjustment of a radiation plan and the application of a proton therapy beam may be aligned dynamically with the detected motion of a target area.
  • particles may be directed at the beam fields as a two-dimensional raster scan of proximate points in the target area.
  • Fig. 3A depicts one such beam field (303).
  • the beam field 303 comprises a square with defined sides.
  • Such a beam field 303 may be suitable for motionless or objects at rest, for example.
  • dosage from a spot-scanning proton beam may be applied to the beam field 303 in a series of sequential rows.
  • a scanning direction 301 indicates the path through each row of the beam field 303 (e.g., moving left beginning from the upper right and snaking around).
  • Fig. 3B depicts a second beam field (305) adjusted to align with the motion of a target area moving laterally (e.g., to the left of the default or resting position).
  • the scanning direction and beginning position may be adjusted to begin when the target area is in between phases (e.g., immediately before exhalation) such that the scan mimics the motion of the target area as its displacement recedes to the beginning or resting position, and, after snaking around to the next row, likewise progresses to the left with the target area (e.g., during inhalation).
  • Fig. 3C depicts a third exemplary beam field (307) that is the opposite scenario to that depicted in Fig. 3B .
  • the beam field (307) is adjusted to align with the motion of a target area moving laterally in the other direction (e.g., to the right from a default or resting position).
  • a scanning direction and beginning position in a raster scan may likewise be adjusted to align with the motion and position of a target area.
  • Fig. 3C depicts a third exemplary beam field (307) that is the opposite scenario to that depicted in Fig. 3B .
  • the beam field (307) is adjusted to align with the motion of a target area moving laterally in the other direction (e.g., to the right from a default or resting position).
  • a scanning direction and beginning position in a raster scan may likewise be adjusted to align with the motion and position of a target area.
  • a raster scan of a layer may begin when the target area leaves its resting position at the top left in the beam field, and may apply the spot-scanning beam moving right as the target area is displaced (e.g., during inhalation), and receding during the next phase in the cycle (e.g., exhalation).
  • the target dosage for an application session may be divided into (equal) fractions, and applied fractionally over the course of the raster scans such that the target dosage is still achieved cumulatively.
  • the number of raster scans (and/or re-scans) may also be dynamically adjusted as necessary to achieve the target dosage.
  • the application of the proton beam may be gated around the periodic motion of a target area.
  • Fig. 4 depicts a timing graph (400) that plots a status of the beam, the dose rate of the beam, and the total distance traveled by the target area over time.
  • the beam may be powered on and off to coincide with the motion of the target area. For example, when the distance traveled is level (e.g., the target area is not in motion) the beam may be powered on, as shown In Fig. 4 .
  • the dose rate of the beam may also be dynamically adjusted to align with the target motion. For example, the dose rate can be increased to take advantage of longer periods of beam application - specifically, those that coincide with the target area being at rest.
  • Fig. 5 depicts a second exemplary timing graph (500) that similarly plots the status of the beam, the dose rate of the beam, and the total distance traveled by the target area over time.
  • the dose rate may decrease substantially (potentially even to zero) during periods of motion even while the beam is powered and being applied. Once motion in the target area discontinues, the dose rate may be increased over time.
  • alignment of the beam application with the motion of the target area may be executed as a series of programmed instructions executed on a computing environment operable to control the motion and emission of the radiation therapy machine described above with respect to Figure 1 .
  • Fig. 6 depicts such a computing environment, including computing system 600 upon which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented includes a general purpose computing system environment. In its most basic configuration, computing system 600 typically includes at least one processing unit 601 and memory, and an address/data bus 609 (or other interface) for communicating information. Depending on the exact configuration and type of computing system environment, memory may be volatile (such as RAM 602), non-volatile (such as ROM 603, flash memory, etc.) or some combination of the two.
  • the computer system 600 may also comprise an optional graphics subsystem 605 for presenting information to the radiologist or other user, e.g., by displaying information on an attached display device 610, connected by a video cable 611.
  • the graphics subsystem 605 may be coupled directly to the display device 610 through the video cable 611.
  • a graphical user interface of an application for grouping multiple beam fields may be generated in the graphics subsystem 605, for example, and displayed to the user in the display device 610.
  • display device 610 may be integrated into the computing system (e.g., a laptop or netbook display panel) and will not require a video cable 611.
  • computing system 600 may also have additional features/functionality.
  • computing system 600 may also include additional storage (removable and/or non-removable) including, but not limited to, magnetic or optical disks or tape.
  • Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data.
  • RAM 602, ROM 603, and external data storage device are all examples of computer storage media.
  • Computer system 600 also comprises an optional alphanumeric input device 606, an optional cursor control or directing device 607, and one or more signal communication interfaces (input/output devices, e.g., a network interface card) 608.
  • Optional alphanumeric input device 606 can communicate information and command selections to central processor 601.
  • Optional cursor control or directing device 607 is coupled to bus 609 for communicating user input information and command selections to central processor 601.
  • Signal communication interface (input/output device) 608, also coupled to bus 609, can be a serial port.
  • Communication interface 608 may also include wireless communication mechanisms.
  • computer system 600 can be communicatively coupled to other computer systems over a communication network such as the Internet or an intranet (e.g., a local area network).
  • computing system 600 may be located in the same treatment room or suite as the radiation therapy device 100 described above with respect to Figure 1 . Alternately, computing system 600 may also be located externally with respect to the treatment room or suite containing treatment device 600.
  • the application of irradiated particles can be directed with greater precision by aligning beam applications with the periodic motion of a target area through the dynamic adjustment of beam characteristics and parameters.
  • This alignment - all of which can be performed within a single, computing system - can effectively reduce misdirected, under-radiated, or misapplied beam applications and provide a more optimized treatment or radiation plan for radiation subjects.

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Claims (13)

  1. Procédé mis en œuvre par ordinateur destiné à ajuster un plan de traitement pour irradier une zone cible avec un faisceau de protons, le procédé comprenant :
    l'accès (201) à un plan de rayonnement cible, le plan de rayonnement cible comprenant une séquence temporelle et spatiale pour administrer un dosage cible à une zone cible en utilisant une pluralité d'applications d'un faisceau dirigé de protons ;
    la surveillance (203) d'un mouvement de la zone cible, dans lequel le mouvement de la zone cible comprend une pluralité de phases de mouvement périodique délimitées par une pluralité de périodes de transition entre la pluralité de phases de mouvement périodique ; et
    l'ajustement (205) du plan de rayonnement cible pour aligner la pluralité d'applications du faisceau dirigé de protons avec un mouvement de la zone cible afin de générer un plan de rayonnement cible ajusté, dans lequel l'ajustement comprend l'ajustement d'un certain nombre de balayages tramés pour se conformer à la pluralité de phases de mouvement périodique et obtenir le dosage cible ;
    caractérisé en ce que :
    l'ajustement du plan de rayonnement cible comprend en outre l'alignement d'une direction de balayage d'une application du faisceau dirigé de protons pour se conformer à une direction du mouvement présenté par la zone cible pendant une phase de mouvement périodique.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le faisceau de protons comprend un faisceau de protons à balayage par points.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'ajustement du plan de rayonnement cible comprend en outre au moins l'un parmi :
    l'alignement d'une position de départ d'une application du faisceau dirigé de protons avec une phase de mouvement périodique en modifiant une position de départ de chaque balayage d'un balayage tramé pour commencer à une position arbitraire à l'intérieur de la zone cible pendant chaque phase du mouvement périodique ;
    l'ajustement d'un débit de dose d'une application du faisceau dirigé de protons sur la base d'une phase de mouvement périodique ; et
    le déclenchement d'applications du faisceau dirigé de protons en dehors de la pluralité de phases de mouvement périodique dans lequel le faisceau dirigé de protons n'est pas appliqué à la zone cible pendant une période de transition.
  4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'ajustement comprend l'insertion d'une pluralité de pauses dans la séquence synchronisée du plan de rayonnement cible pour aligner l'application du faisceau dirigé de protons avec une fréquence de mouvement de la zone cible.
  5. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le mouvement de la zone cible comprend un mouvement d'une zone cible correspondant à au moins l'un parmi :
    un cycle respiratoire ; et
    un cycle cardiaque.
  6. Système d'application de rayonnement, comprenant :
    un accélérateur de particules conçu pour produire une pluralité de particules irradiées ;
    un portique (101) conçu pour recevoir la pluralité de particules irradiées et pour tourner autour d'un sujet cible ;
    une buse de traitement (103) incluse dans le portique, la buse de traitement étant conçue pour émettre la pluralité de particules irradiées sous la forme d'un faisceau dirigé au niveau d'une zone cible chez le sujet cible ;
    un dispositif de capteur conçu pour surveiller un mouvement de la zone cible ; et
    un dispositif informatique client, comprenant :
    un dispositif de mémoire conçu pour stocker un plan de rayonnement cible comprenant une séquence synchronisée pour administrer un dosage cible à la zone cible en utilisant une pluralité d'applications du faisceau dirigé de particules irradiées ; et
    un processeur conçu pour ajuster le plan de rayonnement cible afin d'aligner la pluralité d'applications du faisceau dirigé de particules irradiées avec un mouvement de la zone cible, dans lequel le mouvement de la zone cible comprend une pluralité de phases de mouvement périodique délimitées par une pluralité de périodes de transition entre la pluralité de phases de mouvement périodique, dans lequel le processeur ajuste le plan de rayonnement cible par un ajustement d'un certain nombre de balayages tramés pour se conformer à la pluralité de phases de mouvement périodique et obtenir le dosage cible, et pour programmer un mouvement du portique autour du sujet cible et une émission de la buse de traitement afin d'appliquer le faisceau dirigé de particules irradiées conformément au plan de rayonnement cible ajusté ;
    caractérisé en ce que :
    le processeur est en outre conçu pour ajuster le plan de rayonnement cible en effectuant un alignement d'une direction de balayage d'une application du faisceau dirigé de particules irradiées pour se conformer à une direction du mouvement présenté par la zone cible pendant une phase de mouvement périodique.
  7. Système selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le faisceau dirigé de particules irradiées comprend un faisceau de protons à balayage par points appliqué sous la forme d'une pluralité de balayages tramés sur la zone cible.
  8. Système selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le faisceau dirigé de particules irradiées applique une fraction du dosage cible à chacun parmi une pluralité d'emplacements proches comprenant la zone cible.
  9. Système selon la revendication 8, dans lequel un dosage collectif, à partir de l'application des fractions du dosage cible à la pluralité d'emplacements proches, est sensiblement équivalent au dosage cible.
  10. Système selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le mouvement de la zone cible comprend une pluralité de phases de mouvement répétitives correspondant à au moins l'un parmi :
    un cycle respiratoire ; et
    un cycle cardiaque.
  11. Système selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le processeur est en outre conçu pour ajuster le plan de rayonnement cible en exécutant au moins l'un parmi :
    un alignement d'une position de départ d'une application du faisceau dirigé de particules irradiées avec une phase de mouvement périodique en modifiant une position de départ de chaque balayage d'un balayage tramé pour commencer à une position arbitraire à l'intérieur de la zone cible pendant chaque phase du mouvement périodique ;
    un ajustement d'un débit de dose d'une application du faisceau dirigé de particules irradiées sur la base d'une phase de mouvement périodique ; et
    un déclenchement d'applications du faisceau dirigé de particules irradiées en dehors de la pluralité de phases de mouvement périodique dans lequel le faisceau dirigé de particules irradiées n'est pas appliqué à la zone cible pendant une période de transition.
  12. Système selon la revendication 11, dans lequel le processeur est conçu pour ajuster le plan de rayonnement cible en insérant une pluralité de pauses dans la séquence synchronisée du plan de rayonnement cible afin d'aligner l'application du faisceau dirigé de particules irradiées avec une fréquence de mouvement de la zone cible.
  13. Système selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le débit de dose est augmenté pendant l'application au cours de périodes où la zone cible est au repos et est diminué pendant l'application au cours de périodes où la zone cible accélère.
EP16726254.2A 2015-05-18 2016-05-18 Système de synchronisation de couche intérieure pour un balayage par points rapide Active EP3297725B8 (fr)

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US15/087,800 US9789342B2 (en) 2015-05-18 2016-03-31 System and method for in-layer synchronization for fast spot rescanning
PCT/US2016/033104 WO2016187319A1 (fr) 2015-05-18 2016-05-18 Système de synchronisation de couche intérieure pour un balayage par points rapide

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US10857392B2 (en) 2020-12-08
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US20160339271A1 (en) 2016-11-24
US9789342B2 (en) 2017-10-17
WO2016187319A1 (fr) 2016-11-24
EP3297725B8 (fr) 2021-05-19

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